Pacific Winds 20260815
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US military ‘digging in’ along first island chain, Pentagon policy chief says
S&S 20260814
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2026-08-14/first-island-chain-china-deterrence-22547889.html
U.S. Focused on Quiet Collaboration with Pacific Allies, Not ‘Tub Thumping,’ Says Colby
USNI 20260814
https://news.usni.org/2026/08/14/u-s-focused-on-quiet-collaboration-with-pacific-allies-not-tub-thumping-says-colby
U.S. military notes upcoming drills with S. Korea focused on ‘modernizing alliance,’ security in Northeast Asia
Yonhap 20260814
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260814006800315
Why Korea’s President Skipped Washington for Silicon Valley and Brasília
Carnegie 20260814
https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2026/08/korea-lee-americas-tour-industrial-diplomacy-ai
Why is North Korea ramping up criticism of Japan?
Reuters 20260814
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/why-is-north-korea-ramping-up-criticism-japan-2026-08-14/
Foreign espionage increasing in Pacific, says NZSIS
RNZ 20260814
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/1000619/foreign-espionage-increasing-in-pacific-says-nzsis
Chinese Embassy firmly rejects NZ intelligence report hyping ‘Chinese interference,’ says claims rife with Cold War thinking
GT 20260814
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1368186.shtml
Takaichi’s economic security playbook for the Quad+
EAF 20260814
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/08/14/takaichis-economic-security-playbook-for-the-quad/
Philippines’ Marcos confident on economic cooperation with China, despite rows
Reuters 20260814
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/philippines-marcos-confident-economic-cooperation-with-china-despite-rows-2026-08-14/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Missile shortage reports renew calls for clarity on Guam’s defenses
GDP 20260814
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/missile-shortage-reports-renew-calls-for-clarity-on-guams-defenses/article_0a4de450-cb35-489b-902b-b3cd463da698.html
US Army EOD Specialists Dispose of Legacy Munitions in Palau During Exercise Tenacious Archer 26
US PaCom 20260813
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Articles/Article/4573759/us-army-eod-specialists-dispose-of-legacy-munitions-in-palau-during-exercise-te/
Island Waves
US hands Fiji three new boats to fight threats
Fiji Times 20260814
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/us-hands-fiji-three-new-boats-to-fight-threats/
Japan mulls measure after Putin’s island visit: Foreign Ministry official
Kyodo 20260814
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/82261
Visit to Northern Territories: Russian President Commits Unacceptable, Outrageous Act
Yomiuri 20260814
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20260814-343492/
Taiwan + xCS
Taiwan legislature passes drone development and procurement spending without cuts
Taiwan News 20260814
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6421424
State Department criticizes Beijing-Indonesia naval maneuver as pressure on Taiwan
WashTimes 20260813
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/13/state-dept-criticizes-beijing-indonesia-naval-maneuver-pressure/
Indonesia Is the Latest Country to Validate China’s Claim to Taiwan – Unwittingly or Not
The Diplomat 20260815
https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/indonesia-is-the-latest-country-to-validate-chinas-claim-to-taiwan-unwittingly-or-not/
Taiwan Wants to Know Why Indonesia Joined China in a Naval Exercise East of Taiwan
The Diplomat 20260814
https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/taiwan-wants-to-know-why-indonesia-joined-china-in-a-naval-exercise-east-of-taiwan/
China, Indonesia, Taiwan: the naval question Jakarta has to answe
Asia Times 20260814
https://asiatimes.com/2026/08/china-indonesia-taiwan-the-naval-question-jakarta-has-to-answer/
US team sent to Taiwan to train coastguards amid surge in mainland Chinese activity
SCMP 20260814
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3364096/us-team-sent-taiwan-train-coastguards-amid-surge-mainland-chinese-activity
America is sailing through the Taiwan Strait less. Does it matter?
Breaking Defense 20260814
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/08/america-is-sailing-through-the-taiwan-strait-less-does-it-matter/
Taiwan concludes 10-day Han Kuang military drills
CNA (TW) 22060814
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202608140027
China calls Taiwan’s annual military drills a ‘wasteful charade’
Reuters 20260814
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-calls-taiwans-annual-military-drills-wasteful-charade-2026-08-14/
Australia is not ready for an economic blockade of Taiwan
ASPI 20260814
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-is-not-ready-for-an-economic-blockade-of-taiwan/
Marcos says Philippines will not attack China if it invades Taiwan
Taiwan News 2260814
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6421597
What message do these three New York Times reports send to Taiwan region?
GT 20260814
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1368238.shtml
Taiwan tracks 14 Chinese ships, 9 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260814
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6421367
China will continue to conduct rights-protection and law-enforcement operations in waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao: MND
GT 20260814
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1368199.shtml
'US in no position to point fingers': Chinese FM on US claim over Huangyan Dao national nature reserve
GT 20260814
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1368234.shtml
China releases first ecological assessment of Xisha, Zhongsha, Nansha Qundao islands and reefs
GT 20260814
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1368237.shtml
Australia’s MC-55 Electronic Warfare Jet Has Entered The South China Sea
TWZ 20260813
https://www.twz.com/air/australias-mc-55-electronic-warfare-jet-has-entered-the-south-china-sea
China urges U.S. to stop playing up tensions, instigating confrontation in South China Sea
Xinhua 20260814
https://english.news.cn/20260814/4cbc60453f16469087f22b42666073c9/c.html
China Coast Guard patrols in waters of Diaoyu Dao
Xinhua 20260814
https://english.news.cn/20260814/fffdac90b1db4c9f92dd8be60751237e/c.html
Capabilities
US special forces ready to step up combat drills in Philippines and help deter aggression in Asia
AP 20260814
https://apnews.com/article/philippines-admiral-frank-bradley-us-special-forces-1bb2dd7783be2b82928e98ecea432110
Presidential Memo: Rebuilding the United States Navy and America’s Shipbuilding Industrial Base
US White House 20260813
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/rebuilding-the-united-states-navy-and-americas-shipbuilding-industrial-base/
Trump signs memo permitting foreign shipbuilders to build up to 2 U.S. ships in their shipyards
Yonhap 20260814
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260814001200315
Trump opens door for foreign-built Navy ships. It could get complicated
Breaking Defense 20260814
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/08/what-would-integrating-foreign-ships-into-the-us-fleet-look-like/
Could China’s new transport-tanker capability boost PLA power beyond first island chain?
SCMP 20260814
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3364011/could-chinas-new-transport-tanker-capability-boost-pla-power-beyond-first-island-chain
Pentagon inks SM-3 framework deals with RTX, Boeing on critical components
Breaking Defense 20260814
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/08/pentagon-inks-sm-3-framework-deals-with-rtx-boeing-on-critical-components/
US anti-satellite push revs up space arms race with China, Russia
Asia Times 20260814
https://asiatimes.com/2026/08/us-anti-satellite-push-revs-up-space-arms-race-with-china-russia/
Space Force Adds 5 New Vendors to Space Data Network Project
Air & Space 20260814
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-adds-new-vendors-space-data-network-5-awards/
Exercises
Japan intercepts Chinese spy plane near Okinawa
Defence Blog 20260813
https://defence-blog.com/japan-intercepts-chinese-spy-plane-near-okinawa/